MELISSA, Texas — A Collin County police pursuit led to the discovery of thousands of dollars in cash covered in mildew.
Authorities believe the money came from hurricane-ravaged New Orleans.
A Melissa police officer stopped along North Central Expressway saw Willie Lee's 1999 Oldsmobile speeding by at more than 100 mph. The officer gave chase and pulled Lee over in Grayson County.
The driver, a New Orleans resident, was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated and possession of marijuana.
Inside his car, officers found more than $15,000 in cash, stashed in a first aid kit, two lock boxes, an envelope and the car's center console.
Most of the bills smelled musty and looked like they had been submerged.
Hundreds of dollars of the currency had mildew stains.
"Looking at the condition of the money and the mildew—and, obviously, Mr. Lee being from New Orleans—I believe it is a possibility it was looted from New Orleans during the Katrina hurricane," said Melissa police spokesman Phillip Pannell.
Lee did little to explain the smelly cash. "He said that it was SSI money and government money that he obtained through the years," Pannell said.
Lee bonded out of the Collin County Jail, but has not come back for the cash.
"My theory would be that if it was his money—and it was good money—the first thing he would try to do is contact this department to get his money back," Pannell said.
According to Melissa police detectives, Lee didn't say much when they interviewed him. One officer told News 8 he wouldn't be surprised if Lee never returns— even to face the misdemeanor crimes he's charged with.
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Much of the recovered cash was covered with mildew.
I wonder how much more money was looted from there.
